Abstract: A battery charger IC for controlling operation of a buck converter circuit that includes a series switch and a resistor for sensing battery charging current. The battery charger IC includes a pulse-width-modulation switch drive circuit that, during charging of the battery, supplies to the buck converter circuit with an electrical signal which repeatedly turns-on and then turns-off the series switch. The battery charger IC also includes a charging-current sense amplifier which receives from the current-sensing resistor and amplifies an electrical signal which represents the battery charging electrical current. The charging-current sense amplifier includes a bridge circuit to which is coupled the electrical signal received by the charging-current sense amplifier from the current-sensing resistor and an auto-zero circuit.

Abstract: A rechargeable coffee or spice grinder having rechargeable batteries that are recharged by induction current supplied by a recharging station. The recharging station is plugged into a conventional a.c. wall outlet, such as in a kitchen, and has a charging probe that induces a charge in the charging unit of the grinder without any wires interconnecting the grinder to the station. The grinder's charging unit connect to rechargeable batteries that operate a motor. This motor is used to spin blades to grind an inserted food product placed in a basket within the grinder, such as coffee beans or spices. An opening on the bottom of the grinder serves as an input for the charging probe of the charging station. After material is ground, the grinder can be turned upside down which moves the material to the grinder's removable lid. The lid is used to store and transport the ground material, like ground coffee beans, to a coffee maker.

Abstract: A compact, economical and fast battery charger for Ni-CAD and Ni-MH batteries turns a current source into a controlled voltage source which keys off a signal representative of the voltage level of the battery during the charging process and turns the current source ON and OFF to assure that the battery during the charging process does not exceed a given voltage level. The apparatus includes in par a ballasting resistor in series with the battery to compensate for the low resistance of the battery and an open collector voltage comparator which establishes high and low voltage set points for turning the current source ON and OFF at the appropriate times. The method and apparatus includes a visual display responsive to a signal which produces on the visual display an indication of the state of charge of the battery during a charging cycle. A circuit board has a long U-shaped trace extending around a notch in the board, on each side of each is mounted on battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid charging a battery that compensates for sub-optimal interconnection between the charger and the battery. In the present invention the effect of an imperfect interconnection between a charger and a battery is empirically characterized. The elements of the imperfect interconnection include any resistive losses between the battery charger output and the battery cells. The battery charger incorporates a control loop that measures the current flowing into the battery and the voltage at the interconnect terminals. The control loop then calculates the voltage at the actual batteries based on the measured values and the predetermined interconnect characterization. The control loop uses the calculation to adjust the output of the charger to achieve the optimal voltage at the batteries. The result of optimizing the charging voltage is a significant charge time reduction.

Abstract: The charging method includes providing a current to the battery pack, sensing battery temperature, determining temperature change rate, and disabling termination of the charging method based on a temperature-based scheme if the temperature change rate exceeds a first predetermined threshold within a first predetermined period of time. Termination of the charging method based on a temperature-based scheme may be re-enabled if the temperature change rate is less than a second predetermined threshold. Preferably the second predetermined threshold is equal to the first predetermined threshold. Alternatively, termination of the charging method based on a temperature-based scheme may be re-enabled after a second predetermined period of time has elapsed.

Abstract: In a method for charging a lead-acid battery having a non-antimony-lead alloy grid, after charging the battery, the battery is incidentally discharged in such a manner that the voltage of said battery which has been incidentally discharged per cell falls below the sum of 70 mV and equilibrium voltage that is an open circuit voltage of the battery in equilibrium state after being fully charged.

Abstract: Forced discharging circuits each of which is configured by connecting in series a transistor, a reverse blocking Zener diode, and a discharging resistor are connected between positive and negative output terminals of cells, respectively. In each of the Zener diodes, the Zener voltage is set to be substantially equal to the cut-off voltage of discharge of the corresponding cell. The bases of the transistors are connected to a switching control circuit. The transistor of each of the forced discharging circuits is set so as to have a larger on-duty ratio, as the cell to which the forced discharging circuit is connected is remoter from a ground line, so that the average currents flowing through the cells are equal to one another.

Abstract: An energy storage system is provided that includes input terminals for receiving input energy from a remote power source and an energy storage device coupled to the input terminals. The energy storage device is operative to store at least of portion of the input energy and to supply stored energy to the input terminals. A pump device is also coupled to the input terminal and to the storage device. The pump device is operative to cause the energy storage device to store at least a portion of the input energy when the input energy level is above a first threshold level, and to cause the energy storage device to supply energy to the input terminals when the input energy level is below a second threshold level. The energy storage system is optionally provided with a current limiter for added protection against short circuits. In one embodiment, the current limiter is bi-direction; it protects against short circuits originating at both the power source and within the energy storage system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intercell buss system 10 comprising:at least a pair of electrical cells 12, 14, each having an electrical terminal 12A, 14B thereon;a lid 18 having an up and a down position, such that in the down position, the lid covers at least a portion of the terminals of the cells; further, the lid has a projection 20 thereon; anda current carrying member 16 located on the projection 20 of the lid 18 such that when the lid is in the down position electrical current can pass from one cell to the other through the current carrying member which acts as an intercell buss and when the lid is in the up position, no current can pass through the current carrying member.

Abstract: A line card circuit to prevent false off-hook signals resulting from the permanent loss of battery voltage at a line card. In the battery present condition, the 5V operating voltage is connected to the collector lead of an NPN transistor, which also supplies the output signal of the system. The emitter lead of the transistor is connected to ground. The -48V battery voltage is connected to the transistor base lead and biases the base negative with respect to the emitter, maintaining the 5V logic "1" output signal on the collector lead. There is a resistor and capacitor in series, forming an RC circuit, across the 5V collector lead and the -48V base lead. In the battery present condition, there is a significant charge across the capacitor. In the battery absent condition, the -48V battery voltage is lost and the voltage on the base lead rises to a positive voltage in a time interval governed by the discharge time of the RC circuit, thus causing the system output signal to drop to logic "0".

Abstract: In a process for determining the state of charge and the peak current loadability of batteries in the currentless pauses before and after a loading phase the no-load voltages U.sub.01 and U.sub.02 are measured. From them, with allowance for battery-specific parameters, especially the time curve of the no-load voltage, the true battery rest voltages U.sub.001 and U.sub.002 are computed. During the loading phase the converted current quantity q is measured and from the relationship U.sub.002 -U.sub.001 =C.sub.1 .multidot.q/Q.sub.0 the acid capacity Q.sub.0 of the battery is found. The relative state of charge SOC.sub.1 is determined from a curve of the rest voltage U.sub.00 linearized by the formula SOC.sub.1 =U.sub.002 /C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 as a function of the state of charge of the battery from which the absolute state of charge is calculated as SOC.sub.1 .multidot.Q.sub.0.From the internal resistance R.sub.

Abstract: A battery charger to recharge a battery comprises a transistor switch coupled with a cable loss compensator. Additionally, the battery charger includes a comparator, a current limiter, and a differential amplifier. The circuits are created from discrete components, and particularly include individual transistors. A smoothing network takes the signal from the switch and passes it along to the battery for recharging.

Abstract: A self-contained, battery powered, cableless starting device provides high DC power levels for short durations. Preferred devices have a battery, a connector terminal assembly, and a monitor/control circuit that indicates the voltage available, and limits the device output to safe voltage levels so the battery is not damaged. The connector terminal assembly preferably has 2 or more contacts, sized and dimensioned to electrically contact (mate) with selected electric starter auxiliary power input terminals. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the coupling mechanism physically prevents the contact surface(s) from being positioned more than 5 feet from the battery. Commercial devices may advantageously include multiple batteries in a small carrying case, and have the appropriate capacity, voltage and connectors for starting a specific type of engine. For example, an especially preferred device has connectors suitable for starting a 12V or 24V powered aircraft.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for monitoring the voltage of a rechargeable battery and controlling, in accordance with such monitored voltage, the charging and discharging of such rechargeable battery. While disconnecting or, alternatively, powering down all other power consuming circuitry, the unloaded battery voltage is sampled. The sampled voltage is then stored in isolation while the remaining circuitry is connected or powered up for normal operation. The stored voltage sample, free from errors induced by the otherwise normal operation of the battery monitoring circuit, is then compared to a reference voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for detecting the integrated value of current flow, apparatus for detecting the value of current flow and a battery pack employing those apparatus each of which becomes insensitive to the offset in an operational amplifier. Each apparatus and the battery pack includes: a current sensor resistor inserted in series with a current path; an integrator; an input status selector; an integration capacitor connected to the integrator; and a connection-polarity inverter of the integration capacitor provided between the integrator and the integration capacitor.

Abstract: A battery monitoring system determines an accurate residual capacity of a battery in consideration of variation of battery temperature, amount of battery self-discharge, and amount of battery discharge from a host device, such as a portable computer. The monitoring system further determines a predicted remaining operating time of the device. The battery capacity measuring apparatus includes a microcontroller, a battery pack, a battery temperature detection circuit, a battery voltage detection circuit, a load current detection circuit, and a power saving level detector. The microcontroller is coupled to a host device such that it indicates the battery residual capacity along with the remaining operating time of the device via a display.

Abstract: To provide a battery rental system that is extremely convenient and economical, and that is always stable. The battery rental system includes unmanned automatic battery rental stations, a communication system, a central processing station, electrically assisted bicycle batteries, and ID cards. A user merely inserts the ID card into the battery rental system and the central processing station automatically charges the user for removing a battery from the battery rental system.

Abstract: A battery management system is provided having a battery management unit (BMU) and an integrated switch and sensor unit (SSU) for accurately measuring the charge state of a rechargeable battery and providing charge protection for the rechargeable battery. The system uses a charger unit to charge the rechargeable battery and a combination sensor switch circuit having a first and second mirror current proportional to the current used to charge and discharge the rechargeable battery. The switch function in sensor switch circuit disconnects the battery from receiving additional charge when a disconnect signal is provided. A battery management unit is used to detect conditions such as over voltage, over current, and over temperature associated with the rechargeable battery and transmit the disconnect signal to the sensor and switch unit when at least one condition is detected.

Abstract: The charging system of the invention comprises a primary charging device 4 disposed at a predetermined location, and a secondary charging device 6 mounted on the body 1 of a bicycle. The secondary charging device 6 comprises a secondary coil unit 50, rectifying circuit and charging control circuit which are housed in a casing 610. The secondary coil unit 50 is connected to a battery 20 mounted on the bicycle body 1 by a cord, and comprises a secondary coil 502 provided around an iron core 501. On the other hand, the primary charging device 4 comprises a primary coil unit 30 and charging circuit which are housed in a casing 410. The primary coil unit 30 comprises a primary coil 302 provided around an iron core 301. When the secondary coil unit 50 is positioned close to the primary coil unit 30, the battery 20 can be charged by the charging system.

Abstract: Vehicle electrical system management systems and methods are provided for a vehicle, such as a tractor/trailer. In particular, a system and method are provided for detecting a faulty alternator or other motorized component by analyzing the waveform of the alternator and other motor of the vehicle. As a result, the system and method can provide a motorist with an advance warning as whether the alternator or other motor is functioning improperly. In addition, a system and method are provided for controlling the charging of a battery based upon the temperature of the battery such that the battery can be charged in a more efficient manner. In this regard, the temperature of the battery is sensed and the alternator thereafter charges the battery to a predefined voltage based upon the sensed temperature and a predetermined battery temperature/battery voltage schedule.